Distinguishing Your Intuition from Your Everyday Thoughts

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If there’s one question that keeps coming up in my experience, it’s this: “How do I tell the difference between my normal day to day thoughts and my intuition?”

Honestly, I used to ask myself that question more times than I can count. Between our daily worries, anxieties, and fears, it can feel almost impossible to separate that quiet inner voice from the mind’s constant chatter, until you begin to recognize the difference. You might be thinking to yourself that it feels almost impossible to tell the difference. But once you learn how to separate the two, it’s not nearly as hard as it seems. When our minds filled with constant chatter, it can be difficult to hear our intuitive voice. Our minds are constantly filtering, analyzing, and generalizing, it’s what they do. Did I send that email? I need to call so-and-so back. I really should clean out the refrigerator... These thoughts are endless, and in many ways, they keep us moving forward in life. But at the same time, they can make it difficult to hear our inner guidance.

Here’s the simple truth: does the download, feeling, or thought carry an emotion with it? Do you feel upset, scared, or angry when that thought or feeling comes through? If so, it’s most likely not your intuition. More often, it’s being fueled by fear, anxieties, or intrusive thoughts.

On the contrary, does this download of information or gut feeling feel benign, as if it carries no emotional charge? Does it land with a simple knowing and feel calm and matter of fact, almost like learning a fact in school?
That’s often the quiet signature of your own inner knowing. Intuition usually arrives quietly. It doesn’t demand, rush, or bring about anxiety. You won’t feel upset or confused by the information. It just feels like you’re learning a fact about something or someone. It feels neutral and steady, like an inner compass pointing the way without drama. You might notice it as a gentle nudge, a subtle clarity, or a sudden understanding that just fits, even if you can’t explain why. Trust that still quiet voice, that’s your intuition speaking.

We are all born with intuition, it isn’t reserved for a special few. It’s a natural part of being human. Yet many people believe only certain individuals are “gifted” with it. That’s simply not true.

Anyone can learn how to develop their intuition. The key difference between recognizing it or not, lies in practice and awareness. Some people have learned to listen more closely and trust their inner guidance, while others haven’t yet cultivated that connection. Intuition is like a muscle: the more you notice it and act on it, the stronger and clearer it becomes. It’s really that simple. Like anything in life, it takes practice, and I’m here to help you strengthen that intuitive muscle.

I remember one time when my daughter and I were driving to a nearby city to go shopping. We were happily chatting in the car about all the different places we wanted to stop. Then, out of nowhere, I felt an overwhelming urge to turn around and not continue on our route. At first, I brushed the feeling aside. But within seconds I just knew, if we kept going, something was going to happen. Trusting that inner voice, and remembering past experiences, I decided to listen. We turned around and chose a different destination instead.

Here’s the lesson: I’m certain that by listening to my intuition we avoided something that day. I don’t know exactly what that was, but perhaps it was a car accident. The important thing is this: the moment I turned the vehicle around, that uneasy feeling vanished instantly. That, to me, was confirmation enough.

If you’re interested in helping to strengthen your intuitive muscle here are a couple easy exercises that you can start doing today. The first one is to simply pause and breathe. Quieting your mental chatter can help you calm your mind in order to hear your inner voice. You can start a meditation practice or mindful journaling. Both of these exercises will help you to calm your mind and center your thoughts. Another thing you can do is when a thought or feeling comes in, take a moment to notice where it lands in your body. Remember, intuition feels soft and grounded. Does the feeling make your shoulders tense, and does it stir up anxiety, or does it come through calm and matter of fact? Intuitive nudges tend to be clear and not emotionally charged. Remembering that will help you to differentiate between the two.

Learning to listen to your intuitive voice is as natural as learning to comb your hair. Your intuition is always there, patiently waiting for you to notice it. The more you pause, breathe, and listen, the more natural it becomes to distinguish that quiet guidance from everyday mental chatter. Start small. Ask a simple question and sit with it. Trust the calm, steady feeling that follows. Each time you honor that inner nudge, you strengthen your connection and build confidence in your own wisdom.

Remember, intuition isn’t a rare gift, it’s a built-in compass. As you keep practicing, you’ll find that decisions feel clearer, life flows more smoothly, and those quiet whispers become trusted allies on your journey.